Reflected light from London skyscraper melts car

A reflected ray of light warped panels of a Jaguar XJ parked in a London street

20 Fenchurch Street, known as the Walkie Talkie building, is still under construction

Its curved glass side appears to reflect an intense beam of light onto a certain spot

London (CNN) -- Never mind the traffic, car owners in London have a new hazard to worry about: A skyscraper whose reflected rays have the power to melt cars.

It may sound like science fiction, but it was no joke for Jaguar XJ owner Martin Lindsay, who parked his pricey ride near the under-construction building, officially called 20 Fenchurch Street, but known by many Londoners as the "Walkie Talkie" for its distinctive shape.

When he returned to the car, he found some panels warped beyond repair by the beam of light reflected down from the curved side of the landmark glass tower.

The developers of the 37-floor building, Canary Wharf and Land Securities, have said they'll pay for the high-spec vehicle to be fixed.

Intense light beams down from the new "Walkie Talkie" tower in central London on Friday, August 30. The curved side of the glass tower reflects such a strong beam of light that it has melted parts of cars.

A man shades his eyes in a shaft of intense sunlight reflected from the glass windows of the building on August 30.

Martin Lindsay's Jaguar XJ was damaged by the bright light reflected by the skyscraper.

Lindsay parked near the under-construction building. When he returned to the car, he found some panels warped beyond repair by the beam of light.

The side mirror was warped by the extreme heat.

"The phenomenon is caused by the current elevation of the sun in the sky. It currently lasts for approximately 2 hours per day, with initial modeling suggesting that it will be present for approximately 2-3 weeks," the building developers, Land Securities and Canary Wharf, said in a joint statement.

Three parking spaces around the building have been blocked off in order to avoid any more vehicles being damaged.

Once completed, the "Walkie Talkie" building will have about 33,000 square meters of glass.

London's 'Walkie Talkie' building

London's 'Walkie Talkie' building

London's 'Walkie Talkie' building

London's 'Walkie Talkie' building

London's 'Walkie Talkie' building

London's 'Walkie Talkie' building

London's 'Walkie Talkie' building

London's 'Walkie Talkie' building

HIDE CAPTION

<<

<

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

>

>>

Photos: London's 'Walkie Talkie' building

"Canary Wharf Construction and Land Securities have been very good and agreed to pay for the damage, and accept that there is an issue which they will resolve," Lindsay told CNN.

"I am in construction and sometimes things go wrong which nobody would have envisaged, and this is one of them."

A joint statement from Land Securities and Canary Wharf said they were taking the issue of light reflecting from the building seriously.

"The phenomenon is caused by the current elevation of the sun in the sky. It currently lasts for approximately 2 hours per day, with initial modeling suggesting that it will be present for approximately 2-3 weeks," it said.

The developers have been in touch with local businesses and have arranged with local authorities for three parking spaces which may be affected to be suspended, it said.

"In addition, we are consulting with local businesses and the City to address the issue in the short-term, while also evaluating longer-term solutions to ensure the issue cannot recur in future."

20 Fenchurch Street, designed by architect Rafael Viñoly, will feature about 33,000 square meters of glass -- an area equivalent to more than 4.5 soccer pitches -- once complete.

It's not the only building reportedly to have directed scorching light onto the ground below.